Berlusconi handed 4-year prison term for tax fraud Milan: Flamboyant former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was sentenced Friday to four years in prison for tax evasion, but is very likely to appeal

Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti died at his home in the city of Modena. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year. Pavarotti had been admitted to hospital there with a fever on 8 August. Luciano Pavarotti...

Florence Nightengale born A celebrated English social reformer and statistician, and the founder of modern nursing

Dec. 18, 1737

Antonio Stradivari died Map of Cremona Italy An Italian luthier and a crafter of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas, and harps

Jan. 8, 1642

Death of Galileo Galilei, Italian physicist and astronomer Map of Arcetri Florence Italy Galileo continued to receive visitors until 1642, when, after suffering fever and heart palpitations, he died on 8 January 1642, aged 77